Next Generation Identification

Next Generation Identification (NGI)

Identification and Investigative Services

The NGI system, developed over multiple years, is an incremental replacement of the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) that provides new functionality and improves existing capabilities.

The FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division operated and maintained IAFIS, which became the world’s largest person-centric biometric database when it was implemented in July 1999. Since then, advancements in technology and the changing business needs of IAFIS’s customers necessitated the next generation of identification services. To further advance biometric identification services, the CJIS Division, with guidance from the user community, established the vision for the Next Generation Identification.

This technological upgrade accommodates increased information processing and sharing demands from local, state, tribal, federal, and international agencies. The NGI system offers state-of-the-art biometric identification services and compiles core capabilities that serve as the platform for multimodal functionality.

Advanced Fingerprint Identification Technology (AFIT)

AFIT, deployed on February 25, 2011, enhances fingerprint and latent processing services, increases the accuracy and daily fingerprint processing capacity, and improves system availability. This deployment implemented a new fingerprint matching algorithm which has improved matching accuracy from approximately 92% to over 99.6%. This improvement resulted in over 900 additional matches during the 5-day parallel operations period immediately after deployment. Additionally, the improved accuracy resulted in a 90% reduction in the number of manual fingerprint reviews required by our service providers.

Repository for Individuals of Special Concern (RISC)

RISC, deployed on August 25, 2011, implemented that repository’s rapid search supporting mobile identification. This capability enables officers and agents in the field to screen detainees and criminal suspects against a repository of Wanted Persons, Sex Offenders Registry Subjects, Known or appropriately Suspected Terrorists, and other persons of special interest for rapid identification. Currently, 21 agencies are using this capability. Latest performance metrics show a red hit rate between three to six percent, proving this capability is a valuable first check allowing officers to quickly assess the level of threat an encountered individual poses.

Interstate Photo System

The NGI Interstate Photo System Facial Recognition Pilot (IPSFRP) Project is a collaborative effort between the FBI and pilot agencies to identify user needs and develop a useful investigative tool for the law enforcement community. The Interstate Photo System will provide a search of a limited population of criminal mug shots using a submitted probe image. The candidates resulting from the facial recognition search will be processed automatically and the system will return the results in a ranked candidate list.

Latents and National Palm Print System (NPPS)

In 2013, the NGI System deployed the new NPPS which contains millions of palm prints that are now searchable on a nationwide basis. The NPPS and improvements in latent fingerprint search performance are providing powerful new and enhanced crime-solving capabilities for more than 18,000 local, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement agencies across the country. In addition, NGI has expanded criminal and civil searches against the Universal Latent File, potentially generating new investigative leads in unsolved and/or cold cases as well as latent enrollment and search enhancements.

Rap Back Service

The Rap Back Service provides authorized agencies with notification of criminal, and, in limited cases, civil activity of individuals that occurs after the initial processing and retention of criminal or civil transactions. Rap Back does not provide new authority to agencies, including the FBI, for collection of biometric and biographical information. It does, however, implement new response services to notify agencies of subsequent activity for individuals enrolled in the service. Including a more timely process of confirming suitability of those individuals placed in positions of trust and notification to users of criminal activity for those individuals placed on probation or parole.

Iris Recognition (IR)

As the iris of the eye gains momentum as a strong biometric capability, IR is poised to offer law enforcement a new tool to quickly and accurately determine identity. The NGI iris pilot follows the recommendations of the NGI stakeholders and evaluates the technology in an operational setting.